‘We’re playing against teams that need the points just like we do. It should make for great games’

Optional skate this morning, so no sense if Todd McLellan plans any changes as far as lines or defense pairings, but that’s not likely after that 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins. McLellan did say any lineup adjustments would only be health related and he wouldn’t know for certain until game time.

One other health-related matter: TJ Galiardi skated today for the first time since suffering the upper body injury that caused him to miss the last four games.

“Today was a good test day for his injury,” McLellan said. “We’d like him to be ready to go and provide some energy to our team that we need. I’d like to have the ability to access that.”

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That won’t be tonight, of course, and how soon still remains up in the air.

******Both coaches see the upside of a schedule that pits the teams vying for two or three playoff spots against each other — like the game tonight — but McLellan notes that it’s a double-edged sword.

“It’s 50-50,” he said. “We’re playing against teams that need the points just like we do. It should make for great games and competitive games. It should get us to an elite level to where we want to be when playing because the motivational factor is even greater. But it’s working the same way for them.”

From Coyote coach Dave Tippett’s perspective, it’s the fans who benefit the most.

“This Pacific Division is as tight as I’ve ever seen it,” he said. “It’s good for fans – you go to games and you see every game is going to be full of intensity. I’m sure every team is watching the other teams as well as trying to prepare themselves. A great atmosphere for hockey right now.”

Both coaches also weighed in on the absence of Shane Doan from the Phoenix lineup as he’s serving the second game of his suspension for an elbow to the head of Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn.

“I don’t know Shane’s impact with their team, I can only imagine it,” McLellan said. “He’s their captain, he’s been there forever, he’s a meat and potatoes type guy. But they’ve already played with out him and they’ve had some success.

“We can’t worry about who they have and who they don’t have,” the Sharks coach continued. “It’s about who we have and how they do. It’s about who we put in the lineup and what they give us.”

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Tippett talked about missing Doan both on the ice and in the locker room, but said he felt there were others who can handle things in his absence.

“The one thing we have is a strong core of our leadership group,” the Phoenix coach said. “He’s certainly a big part of it, but there’s no reasons those guys can’t take up the slack, just like on the ice.

“When he’s not out there, you need people to take up the slack. There’s a lot of players that are inevitably looking for more opportunity and when a guy like that is out, they get that opportunity and sometimes they take advantage of it. That’s what we’re looking for.”

*****Before we leave the Coyote corridor, here’s what Tippett had to say about ex-Shark Ray Whitney, his team’s scoring leader with 70 points who turns 40 in six weeks.

“He’s so smart. He’s got a passion to play the game still, which is unbelievable. A lot of players when they get to that age, they lose some of that passion,” Tippett said. “Ray loves coming to the rink, he loves playing every day. That’s first and foremost.

“Secondly, he’s a really smart player with high skills. When he finds opportunities to have an impact on the game, he can make things happen. That’s been the biggest thing for us this year. It’s not just the 70 points he’s got. It’s the ability he’s had to create and do things at meaningful times that allow us to win.”

******Back to the home team.

McLellan weighed in this morning on Patrick Marleau’s scoring slump in which he’s produced only one goal in the last 14 games.

“He is getting chances,” the coach said. “I think there’s been times in the past where his scoring his dried up a little bit and he hasn’t been getting them and you wondered what he was thinking or what he’s doing.

“There’s no doubt that he’s due,” McLellan continued. “When he gets the one, he always scores in bunches so that’s a good sign for us. But let’s get the one and move on.”

*****McLellan also was asked what he wanted to see consistently from his team over the next eight games.

“Starts, starts are real important at this time of the year,” he said. “After that we have to play with some pace and pace comes through not just skating but we have to play through execution, being in proper position to move the pucks and get going.

“We’ve got to get solid special teams from now till the end of the year,” he added. “The power play has to produce and the penalty kill to be a momentum changer in the game. And then we need individuals to step up and give us what they have. It’s that time of the year. It’s a great time for guys to play.”

*****Finally, a dump-and-chase strategy always carries some risk, but moreso against the Coyotes when Mike Smith is in net because his puck-handling skills always have the opposition referring to him as a third defenseman.

“You don’t always get to enter the zone with possession, so when you do give it up, you better put it in an area where you can at least contest it,” McLellan said. “Mike is maybe the best in the NHL at handling pucks and setting up defensemen.

“We had him in Houston for one year and saw that on a nightly basis,” said McLellan, who coached that AHL team during the 2004-05 season when Smith played 45 games there.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

Hey MLBSF,
When are you gonna payoff your bet to the Gambler. You offered a bet, he called oyu out on it and took it and now you owe!! S quit ignoring him and pay up. Or do all of us a favor and just leave this blog. That would be worth $50. Hell, I bet we could get 100 people to pay you $50 each to stay off of this blog!

And while you are at the Uhaul place, rent a truck for yourself and that beer gut you got and move away from Calif. Go to Detroit and become a Redwing fan so you can cry and complaint with the rest of those POS’s.

Schelprock Jr., take your black cloud and go away!

GO Sharks!

el Tib

Attention Marleau Haters… He’s not going anywhere. Get over it and quit crying. I’m tired of seeing you blubber like a little girlie boy.

hockeynut

God Niemi was awful tonight until the shootout. On two goals he was actually =outside the net=!!! He was so off that on the last-second goal, he pushed to the middle to make the save and it went in past his glove =in the middle of the net=!!!!!!!!! His positioning tonight was the worst I’ve seen in I can’t remember how long. On the first goal he collapsed down to the post way before he had to and so was in no position to get out on the shot–it was not NHL goaltending.

Whoever thinks this needs to find another sport to watch. Your understanding of hockey knowledge wouldn’t fill thimble. The goal you are referring to Niemi was on the post because the initial shot (which was blocked) was coming from that side, then the deflection went to the slot area and Niemi basically threw himself towards the middle of the net hoping to catch a piece of the point blank rebound. That is why he was in the middle of the net. Dummass.

Braun and Demers didn’t have their best games, but they are still just kids. It’s disheartening that Vlasic is a veteran and still gets outplayed by the younger kids at times. Vlasic has made leaps and bounds in his game this year but he still lacks “offensive” abilities and intuition. Has anyone noticed that he almost always plays the puck up the boards, no matter what, instead of a crisp, creative outlet pass. Nevertheless, his D game sure salts and jars opposing forwards.

And Brent Burns sure is a rollercoaster ride. I said about two months ago that the guy can build you up with a great play and then find himself watching a goal go by as he slides on his face on the ice…all in the same shift. Nice goal but that shot that hit Clowe in the head was definitely Ehrhoff 2.0.

And Dumbo and Patty. What a tendem. Flashes in the pan of what those two could be, but flashes only get you an 8th seed, if that. For the rest of the season, this team flourishes or flounders on the shoulders of those two.

I am glad to see that Wingels is the real deal. On one shift he threw three hits, worked hard, and then got a great scoring chance. He’s the type of player where you see him play and you say “that guy gets it. He understands the game, he creates chances, and he plays hard.”

I hope we keep Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiingles around for along time.

CforPavs

@Clemenza #204,

That’s a super creepy link.

I don’t need to see what posters you have pinned to the ceiling above your bed.

And it’s funny how PM scores 1 goal and all of sudden he’s redeemed somehow. Comical.

renoshark

“they played a mediocre Coyotes team at home, with 2 of the top Coyote forwards out, and they had all kinds of trouble with them, barely squeaking by them in a SO.

cmkjl,

Disagree. That Phoenix team is a quality team with or without Doan and Vrbata. They have skill, depth, goaltending and a damn good coach. They also are very resilient and extremely difficult to put away regardless of score. All the teams in the Pacific are evenly matched this year and close games like last night shouldn’t shock anyone.

CforPavs

PM needs to put this team on his shoulders for this stretch. The Sharks have 7 games left.

I want to see PM get at least 5 points, and be a huge factor in these last games. A goal last night is a start. But as I have pointed out before, the guy is one of the highest paid players on this team. He ought to be relied on to come up big.

I will be watching very closely PM’s play over the last part of the season. It’s playoff time for the Sharks as it is, I want to see PM CLEARLY STEP UP HIS GAME. I will give an honest assessment each night of his play.

Over the last couple of games, I think he’s hit more people than in his entire career, so that’s good. And a goal last night is a great start in a big win (albeit in the SO).

WI JP

All three Sharks goals were defensive “Dog” breakdowns. Duh.

slappy

CforPavs@208
Agree with you about Wingels. A smart young player who’s only going to get better with more NHL experience. Also liked Desi’s game last night. Another keeper like Wingels. Glad to see that TM rewarded Desjardins’ efforts by bumping him up to center the 3rd line.

MLBSF

i am a d-bag

Stevo

CforPavs,

To me, what’s funny is that many Sharks have a bad stretch here and there but you talk about your fixations on Marleau. Explains a lot.

hockeynut

Watch the replay on the Clowe beaning, it could have been a lot worse, a Phoenix play just ducked out of the way or he would have taken it in the face. No idea why Burns is shooting the puck that high, makes no sense and could have killed someone. (literally)

Stevo

CforPavs,

Say what you want, but the truth is that every player must play their best if the team is going to succeed. Not every player is playing their best.

From last night alone:

Pickles
Nemo
Crankshaft (last 2 games as a matter of fact)
Handzus

But Marleau had a good game and you come with that commentary?

Explains a lot.

CforPavs

@Stevo,

Ummm, PM has been a “hot button” topic on this blog for months now. Oh, and he’s supposed to be one of our best players. So talking about him is pretty run-of-the-mill.

And if you’re accusing me of not liking the guy or his game…guilty as charged. I have no qualms about admittitng that.

How about we talk about the supposed “leaders” of this “perennial Cup contender” as they struggle to make the playoffs?

And I just said how PM had a good start to helping this team last night with a goal and some hits.

CforPavs

@Stevo,

But I know he’s like a sacred Shark that no one should nay-say. I’m sorry if I upset the PM faithful.

I wonder if PM’s sorry for taking way more money than he’s actually worth? Prob not.

CforPavs

@Slappy #213,

Yes, Desi too. I agree with you on Desi. His skills are a little more raw but I really like his effort and his tenacity.

I also feel like he’s a guy who wants to play, who wants to be in the fire. He’s got such an intense look on his face when he’s on the bench, I like that.

Stevo

To the simply, ummmm, uninformed:

Players’ salaries are negotiated strenuously at meetings. In attendance at those meetings are people that argue against the agent’s proposals (this means that the agent does not place an offer on the table and the GM simply signs it).

Teams don’t pay more than the agent proves their client is worth. The financial value of a player is set by facts (hold onto your seat CforPavs and the PM-is-overpaid crowd). These facts are predominantly historical stats and historical non-statistical performance.

IOW, if a player wasn’t a very good player, he won’t get very good money/terms. The converse is true as well.

Period.

Long Time No Cup

CforPavs checking up on Marleau: He’ll be impressed, I’m sure. He’s been waiting his whole career to have his performance critiqued by someone just like you. I wonder if he’ll offer thanks here (and if he does, if he’ll have an avatar) or just lurk. We’ll know for sure he’s been reading when he scores eight or nine goals in the next week or so.

I also feel like he’s a guy who wants to play, who wants to be in the fire. He’s got such an intense look on his face when he’s on the bench, I like that.

Note to Patrick Marleau. Just “look” intense and your detractors will instantly feel like your are worth the money and are a “good” player.

AllSport

203 Hockeynut
Whoever thinks this needs to find another sport to watch. Your understanding of hockey knowledge wouldn’t fill thimble. The goal you are referring to Niemi was on the post because the initial shot (which was blocked) was coming from that side, then the deflection went to the slot area and Niemi basically threw himself towards the middle of the net hoping to catch a piece of the point blank rebound. That is why he was in the middle of the net. Dummass.

You have got to be kidding. Making a save should =not= result in you having your ass on the post, unless you’re in peewee. See, goalies wear these things called skates, and in making a routine save coming straight at you, you use these things called skates to stop your momentum, so you don’t end up with the post between your butt cheeks. You then use these ‘skates’ to recover your position in preparation for the next shot, unless you have terrible balance and have put your self in a ridiculous situation by over-committing to the initial shot.
Good goalies make these things called ‘second saves’ where they are actually able to stop more than one shot in succession. Swap goalies, and that would have hit the yotes goalie square in the chest, since it was IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NET!

As mentioned before, you have no capacity to give kudos to the dude for turning in a solid game, & that speaks volumes about your character….

….or lack thereof.

MLBSF

Marleau scores a single goal and some here want to hold a Stanley Cup championship parade.

You got people like Stevo praising the Sharks for overpaying Marleau at $7,000,000 a year arguing if he’s making it, he must be worth it. *rolls eyes*

You got Clemenza posting one of the Playgirl centerfolds of Marleau to try to creep me out.

You got others wanting me to pay at bet about how I thought the Sharks would come out flat against Phoenix because they’re upset that how dare I even suggest such a thing.

You have Reno telling us Phoenix is a good team without two of their best players.

Well Reno,

If that’s the case, then you support my argument that the Sharks most likely wouldn’t get by Phoenix in the postseason. Because if takes a SO at home, what is it going to take when they are at even strength?

This place is too much. The Sharks aren’t even in the playoffs right now, and people are reacting as though I have been wrong the whole year because of a couple good wins.

I still stand by everything I have been saying, including the need to back up the truck and fire as many people as possible after the season.

hockeynut

Pay attention allspurt. He was on the post because the initial shot was coming from that area and he had to cover short side, THEN when the initial shot was blocked the puck deflected towards the slot area causing Niemi to have to quickly move to the other side and the shooter (who was wide open, big surprise) shot the puck towards the middle of the net. Niemi was busy going post to reset position in the middle of the net but got there too late. He had no chance on that one, none.

AllSport

Yeah hockeynut, when I play goal (and have for a long time), and I want to cover the post, I hook my leg around it on the outside of the goal–that’s the classic position.

If you watch the video you see Niemi lose his net backing in, drifting so far to the short side that he’s literally got the post against his back. Because he’s so far out of position, he can’t even get his glove to the middle of the net, and that’s pretty far out of position. If you can’t see something so obvious I don’t know what to tell you–go watch the video carefully.